Decorex International 2019
I was really glad to visit the Decorex International show at London Olympia. I went partly because of an invitation by Houzz, but mostly because I like to keep abreast of changing trends in interior design. Decorex is not focused specifically on kitchens and kitchen worktops, but it is an important show for us to see. The kitchen area is ever more the central hub, with open plan living and dining areas, and we know that customers are looking for a cohesive look to the entire home. Kitchen design is central to home design, and the worktop is the capstone of the kitchen.
I hadn’t been to Olympia for a while and had quite forgotten how lovely and impressive is that great skylit ceiling.
Decorex International 2019: Wall and floor coverings
One of the most striking aspects of the show, was the emphasis on wall coverings and bold wall designs. There isn’t time to mention all the good things, but I thought I would share a few favourites.
I loved the “Back to Nature” bold designs by Charlotte Jade. These bold prints are available for wallpaper, textiles, tableware , stationery , ceramic tiles and flooring. You can even choose to have a bespoke hand drawn pattern made exclusively for you.
If you are really hearing the call of the wild then an animal print carpet would bring any room to life.
Decorex International 2019: Lighting
I love good lighting displays and think that a variety of lighting can really enhance the atmosphere in a room. Traditionally kitchen lighting was very simple and not a feature of the room, but we are now often seeing lighting in kitchens that is much more of a statement, with chandeliers, hand-blown glass, nature motifs and so on.
Villaverde had a stunning display of lighting and occasional furniture. One of the things that particularly impressed me was the range of finishes available for their designs.
I loved the simplicity of many of the Villaverde designs, with beautiful plain colours in gorgeous leathers and satin. But then, I seem to be equally drawn to the organic look and adored there trailing leaves wall light.
Also on the more organic lighting theme was the Serip stand. The folio collection is made from Bronze and glass and shows maple leaves in Autumn.
The Serip Voa collection, also made from bronze and glass, depicts a species of Swallow: Hirundo rustica. The way the light is reflected through the glass of the birds is absolutely stunning.
One of the other lighting collections, that really stood out for me, was Sylvie’s “Light from the forest”. The beautifully crafted designs using wood veneers teamed with elegant brass fittings have a natural warmth and a retro look with a modern twist. According to their “blurb” they discovered this by chance when a piece of ash veneer was accidentally left on a light box. I am sure that you will agree that they are simply stunning.
Decorex International 2019: Kitchens and Bathrooms
One of the most magnificent displays that was drawing attention at the show, was Officine Gullo with their amazing Fiorentina Cooking ranges.
The blue and chrome finish that they had on display was huge, comprising several different range elements. The finish on the ranges was beautiful; the colours taking it away from a totally industrial steel, and the studs giving it, in my mind, an almost nautical look. As with some of the lighting ranges I have mentioned earlier, the choice of finishes make this truly unique . The collection can be produced in any of the 213 Ral k7 colours and other personalised colours can be custom-created. The metal door furniture can be in Satin Chrome, Polished Chrome, Burnished Brass, Gunmetal, Satin Copper, Polished Brass and Satin Nickel.
I can’t write a blog without at least a mention of a worktop material and the Laminam on display is certainly very eye-catching.
At AG we create many work surfaces for vanity tops as well as worktops for kitchens. It was really interesting to see the display of bespoke vanity furniture from Porter Bathroom.
This more traditional curved unit vanity features an undermounted sink and wall-mounted taps set into the splash-back.
This more modern, open design vanity unit features brass legs and a mitred front and side apron and surface mounted taps. Both units show off the perfectly selected calacatta blue marble to its full glory.
Decorex International 2019: Furniture
At the show there was a vast number of manufacturers of occasional and coffee tables. One that stood out for me was English designer Tom Faulkner. The collections are sisales@tomfaulkner.co.ukmple and elegant: classic with a modern twist using brightly coloured metals like the papillon.
Gilmore British design also had a fabulous display. I particularly liked their overlapping circular coffee tables using a combination of brass, marble and wood. I like the contrast of the cool natural stone with the warmth of the wood.
OIA design – OIA are based in Portugal and natural marble featured very strongly in their collections. They had some beautiful marble designs including the Master side table and the Cosmos.
There was quite a lot of choice in nesting tables and I loved the slightly quirky look of these city centre inspired, monochrome line drawing tables by Extroverso from Italy.
If you are looking for something slightly quirky for your bathroom or pool-side bar, these basins from Bassines France might be just the thing. Made from Steel but with the low- maintenance but hard-wearing PVD finish, in a variety of colours, they make the essential ordinary sink into something much more dramatic.
The stand that wowed me with sheer opulence was Sahrai from Milan. The Sparkles collection of luxury custom made rugs with Swarovski crystals are absolutely gorgeous.
All in all Decorex International 2019 was an interesting visit with a large array of interesting design companies with a variety of colours and styles. Texture is still a key element to design with suedes, leathers and furs featuring heavily. Bold prints for feature walls and wall coverings in heavily textured finishes. Metals mixed with natural stone and wood in all styles from the extremely minimal through to the extremely elaborate or organic. Lush emerald greens, golds and soft pinks are still to be seen in soft furnishings combined with more neutral or earthy toned backgrounds. The day was complete with a lovely meal and glass of wine from the garden restaurant. Definitely worth a visit if you are interested in interiors and design in general.
Naomi King, Sales Manager
We are Affordable Granite, the leading granite and quartz worktop installer in Surrey, Sussex and across the South East. We template and install the worktops from scratch ourselves, to give you a taylor made, excellent fit of worktops in your particular kitchen. Call us for a quotation on 01293 863992 or by email on sales@affordablegranite.co.uk.
© Images from suppliers listed or Naomi King
